In Uganda, the economic benefits of tourism have turned gorilla poachers into conservationists, married women into porters and rangers into spokespeople for the great apes. Poaching is in sharp decline as the hefty fees paid by foreign tourists to see the animals in their natural habitat help fund water provision, health care and other development work in local communities. Many people say the money generated has ensured the recovery of the species, with habitat encroachment and poaching declining as wildlife authorities seek to collaborate more with nearby communities.

Yellow-crested cockatoos have found a sanctuary in Hong Kong's urban parks, but they face housing troubles similar to their human neighbors. These screechy birds, native to Indonesia and East Timor, make up about 10% of the species' global wild population. A researcher found their population is stagnating because the natural cavities in old trees that they need for nesting are vanishing due to typhoons and government tree trimming for public safety. This compounds global pressures on the species such as the illegal pet trade and climate change. Conservationists have stepped in with a solution: installing artificial nest boxes. One already has a pair of cockatoos nesting inside.

Australia has approved a world-first vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia. This disease causes infertility and death in the endangered species. Developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast, the single-dose vaccine reduces symptoms and mortality by at least 65%. Approval means it can now be used in wildlife hospitals and in the field. Some conservationists argue resources should focus on habitat preservation. Koalas face threats from habitat loss, climate change and disease. Experts warn that without action, koalas could become extinct by 2050. The vaccine is part of a broader effort to save them.

WUHAN, China (AP) — A dozen sleek grey Yangtze finless porpoises glide inside a vast pool at the Institute of Hydrobiology in Wuhan as scienti…